F ROM THE PASTOR S DESK

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1 Murphysboro United Methodist Church 1500 Pine Street Murphysboro, IL Volume 2, Issue 2 February 1, 2014 ITEMS OF INTEREST Calendar of Events 2 Happenings 5 Library Corner 3 Stewardship Report 4 Young at Heart 5 Youth Activities 4 Wednesday Prayer Group Begins at 9:30 a.m. Church Prayer Room Come and Pray With Us! Everyone Welcome! F ROM THE PASTOR S DESK I thought a little update might be helpful to everyone as we move forward on a couple of projects of high interest. The elevator project is on schedule and doing well in spite of one unexpected setback. Many of you have noticed a rather large pile of dirt just to the north of the sidewalk under the canopy entrance. This is the result of the need to install a new section of sewer line. We knew the line ran across the area of the elevator pit and would have to be moved. What we did not know was that one end of it was badly deteriorated and needed to be replaced. This work has been accomplished and the elevator pit is fairly complete. Soon the walls of the elevator shaft will be making their way upward awaiting the arrival of the actual elevator which is under construction by the manufacturer. I want to thank everyone for supporting their commitments to the Elevator Capital Campaign. We have had sufficient funds on hand to cover all costs up to this point. We have also secured the loan for this project and those funds are available for use as soon as they are needed. WEEKLY BULLETIN DEADLINE Wednesday 10:00 a.m. The other project of some interest is our second worship service. The launch team is developing the preliminary plans and establishing timelines for this new service. It is the hope of this team to be able to offer an additional worship experience by the fall of this year. Over the next several months, additional services will be scheduled on a occasional basis to give those who are working in this new worship experience a chance to work together and clean up any bugs before we start a week-to-week commitment. While these changes are exciting and needed, they are changes and they will impact our lives in ways both expected and unexpected. Some of them we will celebrate and some of them we may not - which is perfectly normal. Healthy living things grow and growth means change. We are a healthy, vital church with a great mission and the blessing of God to fulfill that mission. As we move together into a new future, may God grant to each of us the grace to do our part. Your servant in Christ, Larry

2 T h e C o m p a s s Page 2 February 2014 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 1 9:00 a.m. Handbell Choir 2 11:00 a.m. Camp Registration 3 6:00 p.m. Girl Scouts 4 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts 5 5:45 p.m. Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Service and Missions 7:00 p.m. Relay for Life 6 6:00 p.m. Scouts Round Table 6:00 p.m. Disciple II 7 8:30 a.m. Adult Spiritual Formation 6:00 p.m. Daisy Troup :30 p.m. Brownies 8 7:30 a.m. United Methodist Men 9:00 a.m. Handbell Choir 9 1:00 p.m. D.O.D. 3:00 p.m. Youth Service Practice 5:00 p.m. Youth Group 10 1:00 p.m. Nurture and Care 6:00 p.m. Unglued Book Study 11 1:00 p.m. Young at Heart 6:00 p.m. Board of Trustees 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts 12 9:00 a.m. Staff Meeting 5:45 p.m. Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Publicity and Promotion 13 4:30 p.m. Girl Scouts 6:00 p.m. Disciple II 14 10:00 a.m. Feeder of the Pack 15 8:30 a.m. Emmaus Formation 9:00 a.m. Handbell Choir 10:30 a.m. Book Club 16 1:00 p.m. Leadership Retreat 3:00 p.m. Youth Service Practice 17 Meals on Wheels this week 6:00 p.m. Girl Scouts 18 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts 19 5:45 p.m. Choir Practice 20 6:00 p.m. Disciple II 21 6:00 p.m. Daisy Troop 7:30 p.m. Brownies 22 9:00 a.m. Handbell Choir 1:00 p.m. Youth Service Practice 23 9:00 a.m. Youth Sunday 12:00 p.m. Our Neighbors Table 5:00 p.m. Youth Group 24 6:00 p.m. Unglued Book Study 25 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts 26 5:45 p.m. Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Youth Ministry Team 27 4:30 p.m. Girl Scouts 6:00 p.m. Disciple II 28 6:00 p.m. Scrapbook and Scripture Happy Birthday Happy Anniversary 1- Roger Twenhafel 11 - Bill & Marie Quigley 3 - Tyler Doody 12 - Martin & Katherine Twenhafel 4 - Joan Bastien 14 - Paul & Viola Parrish 5 - Ed Thrailkill 18 - Bill & Mary Slider 6 - Rhonda Shands 22 - Charles & Pam Crews 7 - Lola Pierson 24 - Lowell & Ada Heller 8 - Kyle Hargraves Violet Fager 10 - Harold Gibbs 11 - Doug Bitner 12 - Pattie Shields 14 - Betty Morefield 16 - Lynn Pierson Frank Stewart 18 - Ralph Bastien 19 - Marie Quigley 22 - Imogene Tedrow Paul Parrish 23 - Donna Horniacek 24 - Judy Little Adrienne Will 27 - Eileen Auxier 29 - Joshua Barringer If your anniversary or birthday does not appear in the Compass, please contact the Church Office at YOUTH SERVICE FEBRUARY 23RD 9:00AM PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT YOUR YOUTH. THEY ARE OUR FUTURE!

3 T h e C o m p a s s Page 3 The Library Corner: A New Habit for a New Year A New Habit for a New Year does that phrase strike a bell? It was Pastor Larry s sermon title on a cold and snowy Sunday January 5 th, He noted that regular churchgoers gain strength and inspiration from attending weekly church services, but there s still more! We can have a deeper connection to God, and a spiritual life that nourishes us on a daily basis. Sound good? Our opportunity for growing our spiritual life is as close as the nearest devotional or prayer book, and all it takes is a little planning. We lead busy lives. We may not be able to do a devotional practice every day. But, as Pastor Larry points out, perhaps we can do so once or twice a week. Once this new habit is formed, we may wonder how we ever did without that extra opportunity to feel closer to God. If you don t have a devotional or prayer book, try one from our Church library. Or perhaps try out two or three, just to find what kind of devotional speaks to you at this point in your life, and what you may eventually like to buy for yourself. We have resources for a variety of ages and stages. Some examples: The Beginner s Bible, for Pre-Schoolers, is organized into 365 devotions. Snuggle up for time together with God and your little one. Day by Day Devotions: 7-minute character growing devotions for kids (for ages 6-10) by Karyn Henley. It has weekly topics and Bible readings, plus ideas for activities. One Year Devos for Teens by Susie Shellenberger. Devotionals centered around thoughts and encouragement for tough issues and real life situations for teens. 15 Minute Devotions for Couples by Bob and Emilie Barnes. They promise: Through these devotions you will begin to see God doing a marvelous work in your lives. Each of your hearts will be opened to the other,,, Experiencing God Day By Day by Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby. They state: This book [does] not take the place of God s Word in your life, but introduces verses for you to consider and meditate upon. The Holy Spirit is your Teacher, and He will impress things upon you heart as you read the devotional thoughts. A Guide to Prayer for All God s People by Rueben Job and Norman Shawchuck. They tell us this book was prepared out of our own joy in finding the living God as a faithful, loving companion in our lives. Each day s entry includes prayers, Scripture, and readings. It makes a wonderful devotional companion. The Power of Praying Through the Bible by Stormie Omartian. Omartian selects Bible verses and adds a short Bible study and devotional prayer. She says I hope...they will encourage you to see every verse of God s word as source of inspiration to draw you into a closer walk with the Lord through ongoing prayer. This book is in large print. This is just a sample of the devotional and prayer books available. Look for them on the library table upstairs, or downstairs in the library. As Pastor Larry says--start a new habit today that will bring only reward the reward of growth in relationship to God.

4 T h e C o m p a s s Worship Leader - Rick Runge - rrunge@frontier.com Acolytes February 2 - Tyler Doody & Cub Scout February 9 - Caitlin Doody & Maddie Bean February 16 - Cadence Brown & Alex Baughman February 23 - Conner Twenhafel & Adam Barringer Sunday Stewards Dick Graff Ron Moutardier Rick Runge Rob Williams Welcome Hostesses February 2 & 9 - Jennifer O Donnell & Terri Yates February 16 February 23 - Patti Shields & Carolyn Sauer - Emily Finke & Allison Brown February 2 - Wilma Westerfield February 9 - Mary Jane Williams February 16 - Emily Hargraves February 23 - Mason Schingel Prayer Request Readers Ushers James Bean Todd Doody Jay Graff Kyle Hargraves London Watson Jennifer Watson HELP FEED OUR YOUTH If you can help out feeding the youth groups, please signup on the signup sheets in the kitchen, on the refrigerator. Check out MUMC Youth Groups on Facebook! February 2 - Youth Sunday Practice with Ricardo - 3:00-4:00 February 9 Youth Sunday Practice- 3:00-5:00 Youth Group - 5:00-6:30 February 16 - Youth Sunday Practice - 3:00-5:00 February 22 - Youth Sunday Run Through - 1:00-4:00 February 23 - Youth Sunday - Be at church by 8:15am Youth Group - 5:00-6:30 *CYF: Christian Youth Fellowship (3rd - 5th grade) *JYF: Junior Youth Fellowship (6th - 8th grade) *SYF: Senior Youth Fellowship (9th - 12th grade) Page 4 Stewardship Report by the Numbers January-December Number Giving Units - PLEDGED $ 262,065 AMOUNT GIVEN $ 3,590 AVERAGE PER PLEDGED GIVER 81 Number Giving Units - NON-PLEDGED $ 91,834 AMOUNT GIVEN $ 1,134 AVERAGE PER NON-PLEDGE GIVER Top 10 Service & Missions Supported Imagine No Malaria $ 2,063 Our Neighbor s Table $ 1,241 Little Grassy Camp $ 802 Benevolence Fund $ 3,770 Adult Mission Trip $ 8,279 Methodists on a Mission $18,282 Christmas Dinner $ 2,289 Feeder of the Pack $ 4,358 Illinois Masonic Home $ 2,195 Murphysboro Food Pantry $ 2,405 Other important numbers the congregation should know: $125,000 of the Church s investments were used to pay down the Renovation Loan in The outstanding balance of the Renovation Loan is $45,937. The Church s remaining investments are valued at $115,685. Only the income generated from investments can be used by the Trustees for building expenses. The Elevator Capital Fund drive exceeded $200,000. The Elevator account had a balance of $ 54,277 at the end of the year. Since pledged income for the elevator comes in over the next 3 years, a 10 year loan of $159,500 has been approved by the Church Council to assure timely payments. The loan should be paid off in three years as pledges are received. The year ended with $ 20,308 of uncommitted operating funds which will roll over to help fund the budget for The approved 2014 operating budget is $ 389,940. The Finance Committee

5 T h e C o m p a s s Page 5 Saturday Book Club Meeting February 15th at 10:30am Church Library Contact or ehargraves88@gmail.com We will be discussing We Are Water by Wally Lamb. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Hour I First Believed and I Know This Much Is True, a disquieting and ultimately uplifting novel about a marriage, a family, and human resilience in the face of tragedy. February Noisy Offering is Going to Feeder of the Pack Thanks to all the hostesses that served in the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings during this past year. You were always willing to meet and greet all those who walked through our church doors. I have enjoyed serving as your chairperson and know that Carolyn Sauer and Patti Shields will do a terrific job in the New Year. Thanks also to Teresa Gilbert, Christine Nolan and Mimi Rice for all their input and help. Love in Christ Janice Crews New Book Study Starting February 10th 6:00-8:00pm Every other week Unglued by Lysa Tyrkheursts OUR NEIGHBORS TABLE 2/23 FREE MENU Chicken & Dumplings Dinner with dessert & beverage LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH February 11th 12:00 noon Fellowship Hall Wear Red for Valentines MENU Spaghetti & Meatballs Salad & Garlic Bread Cherry Cheesecake $5.00 PROGRAM Murphysboro Police Department How to Improve our Protection from Crime Events in our Home.

6 Murphysboro United Methodist Church 1500 Pine Street Murphysboro, Illinois, Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Murphysboro, IL Permit No. 63 Return Service Requested Murphysboro United Methodist Church 1500 Pine Street Murphysboro, IL MUMC OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Phone: Fax: We re On The Web! SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE Worship Service: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School:10:10 a.m. Ministers...The Congregation Pastor...Larry A. Gilbert Coordinator of Ministries...Earl R. Renshaw Discipleship Coordinator...Teresa Gilbert Financial Secretary...Christine Nolan Custodian...Pat Sullivan Organist...Micah Mayes Choir Director...Ricardo King Nursery Attendant...Tania Cruz